Kalimbaviews: Rodrigo Laje

Exploring Instagram, I accidentally stumbled into an account that I recommend you visit: that of RodrigoLajeMbira. Rodrigo is a versatile artist: he teaches music, a truly noble profession, he is a skilled builder of  'Mbira, as well as an interpreter faithful to the traditions of African music. In this regard, I invite you to take a look (or rather, to spread an ear) at his Soundcloud account.

But now, let's know Rodrigo better!

He is a  'Mbira builder, an Argentine teacher and interpreter. What struck me about this guy (he’s 29, he’s really young!) is that he carries on an art with a centuries-long tradition, or that of the construction of lamellophones with an ancient aspect, with an ancestral sound and that are not easily found on the market. These are unique objects: only the fact of owning them is a symptom of pride, while building them is a real gesture of love.

Rodrigo has been doing this activity for just 7 years, but he is really a passionate artist: it is my passion, and my road to walk this life, he told me in the interview that I report complete below.

Well Rodrigo, let's talk about your experience as a musician: how did you start to play music?

I used to play electric guitar and rock.

What instruments did you play before kalimba? You are a musician, but also a songwriter! Tell me more.

I play guitar, bass, quena, zampoña, percussion, and many other instruments. I recently finished recording a album of 'mbira music. I have a site where it is like a "Sample Map" of the different tunings of 'mbiras that I make. Soon I will upload this album, also on spotify (so let's keep in touch with his music!)

Really interesting, Rodrigo, but now let's enter the main topic of the interview: how did you get in touch with the lamellophones?

A change in my consciousness lead me to search different sounds. There was when I met the Kalimba: the sound was so amazing and my fingers felt so familiar with the way of making music, that I researched about its origin. I found that it comes from Africa. I found some images of a very strange kalimba, with many fat tines and bridges. It was a 'mbira from Zimbabwe. Since that moment, I bought some albums and fell in love with its music. But I wanted to play it and in my country was impossible to get one, and buy it from USA was too expensive, so I decided to make my own instrument. There was not much information on internet, so I started exploring by myself. My first 'mbira was like a toy (I made a mistake: I burned it some time later). The second one, is here on my 'mbira wall. Then, I started having some customers, until today, which I have made around 300 mbiras. I travelled twice to Zimbabwe to learn more about lamellophones and their tradition.

It is a large number of instruments! And what does the music of the lamellophones mean to you?

For me, play Mbira (and kalimba) means a conection with ancestral forces, with a long human tradition and knowledge of playing music. Speacially Mbira has a strong cultural background, which I feel like home. It means relax, but also dancing and joy. It can be fun and sad, so it is like a twist of feelings, when you can connect with the spirit of the music.

This is a wonderful thought, Rodrigo, I really appreciate it and the same will do our readers. But now, let's talk about a practical thing: how do you build your 'mbiras?

For making mbiras I use woods from Argentina, which is a solid one and I pound steel for the tines. That means that the tines are not made with industrial material which you can buy in the stores. This is mainly recycled hard steel, which I pound with a 2 kg hammer. I hit around 300 times each key to make a strong and rich sound, with special overtones and deep bass tone. If I want to amplify the sound, I set the 'mbira inside a big calabash, like the Shona tradition from Zimbabwe. I love that people and that culture so much.

This is really interesting and curious, I think that our readers can't wait to listen to your music, played through your incredible instruments! So this is your occasion to talk with new people: what do you want to say about your music experience to conclude this wonderful interview?

I would like to push people to keep playing and researching more about kalimba. There are many many types of kalimbas: Likembe, Mbira, Njari, Matepe, and many more. Some are more difficult than other ones, but there is a big world. Also, I would like to push people to connect with its african origin, to understand more on what we are playing. In Africa, the lamellophones family is extended from south to north, and even in South America, there are paintings that shows that Mbira has been here, in 1830. Keep playing and sharing with people, don't close on yourself. People will be glad to listen the magic that you are playing!